The Front Porch Swing

[LindaB220]

Yay! It only took about 5 emails and some whining, but I actually got a feed company to give me their bulk price list! Yay!

And

because they wanted to know all my business info, including farm license # and how many years we've been in business before they wanted to give me prices on their products. The whining got me around that, but probably didn't set me up well to meet or beat their strict screening criteria. They don't sell to just anyone.

FWIW ... we've been farming here since 1910.

You newcomers you.

 

[perchie.girl]

Could I ask a favor from you guys? Most of you have way more chicken experience than I do and I am having a problem with my hens. I posted over in the predator/pests thread.

It's called LICE, MITES OR ? ANY HELP APPRECIATED.

I've only gotten one person to respond and as much as they are trying to help I think they are stymied about it as much as I am.
If you'd rather have me just post the question here with the pics I can do that too.

Sorry to bug about a chicken problem, I just cant figure out what is going on.....
Just to add a note that's not in original post....all the girls are active, eating, drinking, laying. No one seems "sick" in any way.
Thanks for any help.

Another bitter day here. Hopefully last day of it though.

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I just answered on the other post i am going to answer here:

Thats how lice or mites start..... The scabby areas are areas where the chickens have picked their own feathers out. imagine ants or fleas biting you in specific place.... That Is goinjg to itch or be irritated. Mites and lice are tiny... You will need to treat all your birds with an Ivermectin product of some sort, Or pyrethine dust. Strip the pens of bedding and throw it away if you can.... dont put it in the compost. Then Treat your pens with Adams spray or Seven mixed in a sprayer... Neem oil works too for mites. Pull nest boxes down too and spray those making sure to saturate any areas that have nooks and crannys.

Mites are smaller than lice .... Key in the words on Google Chicken Lice infestation. You will get pictures as well as combat strategies.

Ivermectin will kill both on the bird. Ivomec I believe is a cattle pour on form of Ivermectin. The dosages say three drops for birds If I remember my reading. ANd there is an egg withdrawal. time.... I dont remember that. IVermectin has the added bonus is when you treat for mites or lice you will also be treating for worms. Oh and unless you are using in massive quanties youreally cant overdose Ivermectin... youare just wasting it.

Follow the directions on the Adams Spray or Seven.... Those critters lay their own eggs. Which hatch in a given amount of time.... I believe its either seven or ten days.... Treat every one and the coop again in that amount of time. I would NOT put in nesting material or bedding till the second treatment is done.

deb

 

[Lacy Blues]

They must be fast if that's what they have because I have looked and looked and haven't seen one critter, lol.
When I get home I will do a recheck. They are going to be sick of me by the time this is all done!

I will be getting ivomec tomorrow. Working today and cant get to store.
A lot of threads I have read where people use it say they put 3 drops on back of neck. Do you not recommend that or you just prefer to spray? Seems like spraying would be a lot more than 3 drops. Sorry, not questioning you, just trying to cover all bases before I do it. As with any research, you end up finding many different opinions and methods. Also, would I have to retreat and what period of time would I have to?
And, on the other thread I posted that I had read people use the ivomec for cattle at .08%. They thought it cattle one was .05%. They looked it up and said cattle is .05% and the one for sheep and goats is .08% and I should use that. You mention the cattle one in your post. Should I just get that? I will also be talking to the people at the store too so maybe they can help too.
I will be doing total clean out of coop also. Right now I use DE. Can I stick with that while using ivomec on birds or should I get "stronger" type of dust for the coop, and what if so?
Sorry, so many questions. I will be going to store tomorrow so want to know everything I will need to pick up.
Thank you again!

I use the one for cattle. With the little spray bottle, you don't have to push the button all the way down. Just a little spritz will do. Also, I think its easier to apply most of it to the feather than the skin. Just a little on the skin... it treats worms too so you take care of two problems at once. I don't worry about worms much but if my birds get bugs I treat with the ivomec. It also kills the eggs that these parasites lay in and on the feathers.

I have seen these same wounds. The lice/mites do chew the skin on the birds, not just the feathers. Like I said, we (my kids) had one bird where we didn't notice until it was too late, they chewed through her skin and the layer of muscle there and were inside her abdomen. Its pretty gross.

Hi. Yes I agree about it looking like a wound. I think on two of the hens it "cracked" while laying an egg. They all have that "spot" of scabbiness and loss of skirt feathers. She is the worst as far as feather loss goes, and of course it looked even more worse because I had just washed her back end. On the other hens you cant even tell there is feather loss unless you move some skirt feathers then you see the bald patches. Or is this normal???? Pretty sure I never noticed so much skin in that area before.

I'm driving myself crazy, lol
At this point I am going to do the ivomec. I try not to use any strong stuff on them, but I'm stumped at this point. Hopefully more folks will look and give me their opinions also.
Thanks for your help.

The other hens are probably trying to get the bugs that they can see and end up pulling some feathers.

I try not to use strong stuff too but I end up using the ivomec maybe 2 or 3 times per year. If I had wood ashes and lime and DE to make a nice dust bath for them, I'd try that, but I don't.

As far as the people at the store being to help. I have strong doubts. Using the ivomec for chickens is off label use and if you ask about it, they'll probably lead you to the poultry department and show you the powders you can use. Which you have to be sure and do again 10 days later to catch those that have hatched in the meantime.

 

[perchie.girl]

Mannnn..... Its psycho Sematic I am sure..... but I am ITCHING now......

 

[perchie.girl]

Quote: Ivermectin has been around a long time.... It has been used successfully and benignly on horses cattle dogs cats with great success. Any thing that treats for heart worms has ivermectin in it by the way.

For a whole flock infestation its best to be aggressive or you will never get rid of them. Its off label to give to goats but I found the dosage on line. The pour on has to have skin contact in order for it to work because its a Systemic medication.... it has to enter the bloodstream in order to reach blood sucking insects. OH and it will kill ticks too.

Nooks and crannys in the wood of the chicken house are hiding places for mites so make sure you treat those as well... This is part of the reason I dont have much wood in my coop.

deb

 

[luvblues7]

Hi friends! Is there room on the porch swing for an Okie? I've been reading on the Fermented Feed Thread and was told I should come and join in the fellowship here. I could bring a fresh pecan (in Oklahoma we pronounce it Pecon) pie and some freshly brewed Sweet Raspberry Tea. I tried starting at page one but this thread goes way to fast to play catch up so I jumped ahead and started with last Monday's post. I love the relaxed atmosphere and comradery here.

A little bit about myself: I have been married to the same wonderful man for 37 years, I am the mother of two wonderful daughters that has blessed me with two son-in-laws and 6 beautiful grandchildren. I truly love my Lord and the little country church that I serve Him in where I love to sing old southern gospel music to Him. I have Blue Wyandottes, BLRW, MFC Bantams, and new baby Speckled Sussex and Partridge Rocks. I have miniature horses and one VERY spoiled schipperke dog that is my very best buddy. Enough about me.........

TexasLisa, my heart truly goes out to you. I cried when I read about your girls. I had a raccoon one time completely wiped out my whole flock. Took me months to come to grips with the devastation. May you have peace and comfort and soon hear the new chirping of a fresh new start of babies.

I look forward to becoming friends with you all and sharing in the special times of your lives......


Carolyn

 

[TexasLisa]

Hi friends! Is there room on the porch swing for an Okie? I've been reading on the Fermented Feed Thread and was told I should come and join in the fellowship here. I could bring a fresh pecan (in Oklahoma we pronounce it Pecon) pie and some freshly brewed Sweet Raspberry Tea. I tried starting at page one but this thread goes way to fast to play catch up so I jumped ahead and started with last Monday's post. I love the relaxed atmosphere and comradery here.

A little bit about myself: I have been married to the same wonderful man for 37 years, I am the mother of two wonderful daughters that has blessed me with two son-in-laws and 6 beautiful grandchildren. I truly love my Lord and the little country church that I serve Him in where I love to sing old southern gospel music to Him. I have Blue Wyandottes, BLRW, MFC Bantams, and new baby Speckled Sussex and Partridge Rocks. I have miniature horses and one VERY spoiled schipperke dog that is my very best buddy. Enough about me.........

TexasLisa, my heart truly goes out to you. I cried when I read about your girls. I had a raccoon one time completely wiped out my whole flock. Took me months to come to grips with the devastation. May you have peace and comfort and soon hear the new chirping of a fresh new start of babies.

I look forward to becoming friends with you all and sharing in the special times of your lives......


Carolyn

Welcome to the Front Porch!! Would you like some Iced Tea....sweet or unsweetened?

Thank you for your kind words! I am an Okie by marriage. Ken is a true blue Okie from Shawnee. Whereabouts are you?

Lisa

 

[luvblues7]

Welcome to the Front Porch!! Would you like some Iced Tea....sweet or unsweetened?

Thank you for your kind words! I am an Okie by marriage. Ken is a true blue Okie from Shawnee. Whereabouts are you?

Lisa

50 miles south of Norman, 50 miles north of Ardmore. I live in Elmore City a very small community just west of Pauls Valley. I live on the farm that my grandparents purchased, then my parents owned it when I was born (a long long time ago), and now my husband and I live on the same 60 acres. I been to lots of Horse sales in Shawnee, we used to raise Cutting Horses and that sale in Shawnee was a hot spot for buying and selling.

 

[TexasLisa]

50 miles south of Norman, 50 miles north of Ardmore. I live in Elmore City a very small community just west of Pauls Valley. I live on the farm that my grandparents purchased, then my parents owned it when I was born (a long long time ago), and now my husband and I live on the same 60 acres. I been to lots of Horse sales in Shawnee, we used to raise Cutting Horses and that sale in Shawnee was a hot spot for buying and selling.

I know exactly where you are! Beautiful country. Do you still have horses? (I like your quote--very true!!)

Lisa

 

[luvblues7]

I know exactly where you are! Beautiful country. Do you still have horses? (I like your quote--very true!!)

Lisa

Just the little minis. Got to old to wrestle the big ones. Last quarter horse I had put me in the hospital with a sever head injury. Decided better to stick with the little ones that I handle now. Maybe I could post pics of the miniatures later this evening.